I was checking out the “Des Moines Register” website this morning for news and stumbled across this in the opinion section….

The indignation expressed by those griping that bike riders on the highway are in fact “free riders” because they do not have to buy licenses is amusing.  Perhaps we should ban those unlicensed tractors, grain wagons and combines from our roadways as well. They are not licensed and, furthermore, farmers do not pay taxes on the fuel they use. — Dave Swenson, Ames

Following this there were reader comments, of course, and I’m going to share my two thoughts using those as a springboard. 

• floatmyboat wrote: No, but farmers do pay plenty enough in property taxes that help build and maintain roads and infrastructure…oh and bike paths as well.

Yeah, well, I pay property taxes too and in my opinion, more than enough.  However, I still do it and I know I don’t get a choice, but I also know that they go back into my town & school system, so I guess I’m still reaping the benefits.  Owning land (whether you’re a farmer or not) involves paying taxes and everyone who owns land does it, regardless of their occupation, so that shouldn’t even be used as an argument for farmers!

• bp1505 wrote: How far can you bike without any food in your system?  When was the last time you, while riding your bike and holding up traffic, produced anything of value for anyone? Farmers are producing your food to sustain your existence so you can waste oxygen while riding your toy on a road with two to ten ton machines that could crush a bike rider in an instant. Who is the dimwit in this equation?

Hmm…I have two thoughts regarding this one: A) you are obviously a farmer and fear that someone’s opinion might ruin your chance of a tax right off and B) you obviously have no sense of being physically active & healthy.  Yes, bikes hold up traffic (sometimes) as do tractors (sometimes) and I can honestly say that I’ve been held up by more tractors than cyclists in my day (Yes, I do live in a farming community).  I work with those farmers everyday.  I see their tractors everyday, and I still get irritated with them driving down the middle of the road.  Cyclists can at least get over on the shoulder and make passing easier, but that being said there is always going to be a farmer and a cyclist that holds up traffic.  It doesn’t make one bigger, better, or more worthy than the other.  My hats off to the person on the bike for getting out there and trying to make themselves healthier and more phyically fit! 

• aglaw wrote:Most of the roads bike riders utilize are county roads. County roads paid for by property tax dollars collected from property tax payers. In 90 of our 99 counties in Iowa, farm land accounts for a majority of the property tax base. Agriculture pays it share for roads. The fuel tax not paid by farmers, of which a portion goes to state and federal highways – perhaps bicyclists should try I-80 or I-35. PS- I do enjoy bicycling myself

Most of the roads in town (to and from the elevator) that the farmers use are city roads too.  I don’t see them paying city taxes to repair them?  While I have no doubts that the farmers are putting back into county roads in one way or the other, I also know that their equipment does A LOT more damage to said roads than my bicycle.  In a very specific incident  in my area, there have been damages done to county and city roads from all the “heavy” equipment using them when they go to the elevator.  Guess who has paid for those repairs??  Not the farmers, it’s been a joint effort of the coop & the appropriate governments.  Yes, the coop uses those roads too and are willing to accept responsibility, but what about the other “heavy” loads that have caused damage?

• rwfreddywrote: Farmers also produce the grain that goes into the granola bar in your fannypack. I wouldn’t be complaining about them too much, if I were you…

I don’t know if Mr. Swenson is so much complaining about the farmers as saying “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander”.  Comparing bycicles to tractors & wagons on roads is like comparing an ant to an elephant on the ark.  Is it really a reasonable argument?